When Security Isn’t Shared Equally
Not all seniors face aging on a level playing field. Vulnerability grows where income insecurity overlaps with other challenges — disability, isolation, systemic discrimination, or lack of family support. These barriers magnify risks of poverty, poor health, and social exclusion.
Common Barriers
- Low lifetime earnings (from precarious jobs, unpaid caregiving, or discrimination) leading to smaller pensions.
- Housing instability, with seniors in rental markets hit hardest by rising costs.
- Disability or chronic illness, increasing expenses for care and equipment.
- Language and cultural barriers, leaving some unaware of available supports.
- Rural and remote living, where services and programs are harder to access.
The Human Impact
Vulnerable seniors may delay medical care, go without proper nutrition, or become isolated from their communities. Financial stress compounds emotional and physical health struggles, creating a cycle that is difficult to break.
Addressing Inequities
- Targeted benefits for those with the greatest needs.
- Proactive outreach, meeting seniors where they are rather than expecting them to navigate complex systems.
- Community programs that provide food, companionship, and accessible transportation.
- Policy reforms that address structural inequities, particularly for women, Indigenous, newcomer, and LGBTQ2S+ seniors.
The Question
If aging is universal, then dignity must be universal too. Which leaves us to ask:
how can we identify and dismantle the barriers that make some seniors more vulnerable than others, ensuring equity in income security and care?
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